Extension member for wrist-watch straps



March 1927' J. P. BENJAMIN EXTENSION MEMBER FOR WRIST WATCH STRAPS Filed June 5. 1926' Patented Mar. 29, 1927..

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. BENJAMIN, OF EASTPROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO REX MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

EXTENSION MEMBER FOR WRIST-WATCH STRAPS.

Application filed June 5,

This invention relates toan improved construction of wrist watch strap and has for its object to insert a foldable link member into the strap which is adapted to be unfolded to extend the length of the strap to permit it to be freely passed over the hand of the wearer and then folded to cause the strap to fit closely about his wrist when positioned thereon.

A further object oflthis invention is to provide in this extendiblemember a pair of links hinged together at one end, one of the links being provided with a hook to engage any one of a number of holes in one of the strap parts for the purpose of adjusting the length of the wrist strap.

A still further object of this invention is to form this hook from the stock of one of the link members over which the opposite link member folds to secure the stra part in position against accidental detac ment.

.With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended cla1ms. v

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view showing my imroved extensible member in full lines as being folded and in dotted lines as being .unfolded to extend the length of the strap.

Fi re 2 shows one of the links of the extensi le member as detached and showingthe strap connecting pins as disconnected from the link. i

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the channel-shaped link of the extensible member.

7 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the strap pm having spaced holes for engagement withthe hook in the channel link.

Figure 5 is the other strap part which is adapted to be connected at one end to a watch and its other end to the folding link 1926. Serial No. 113,878.

engaging one strap part, the other link belng folded over this hook and strap part and {hekother strap part as lying over the folded ll'l It is found in the practical use of wrist watch straps of this character, of advantage to be able to readily extend the length of the strapso as to be readily passed over the hand of the wearer without separatin the ends of the strap; also, it is found of advantage to be able to disconnect one of the strap parts from its link so as to permit the watch to be vtaken from the arm without assing over the hand, if desired. Then again, it is found of advantage to be able to readily ad ust.the operating length of the strap to fit wrists of different sizes so that when the extensible member is folded the length of the strap will be the right length to fit the wearer, all of which desirable features are obtained in my improved wrist strap; and the following is a detailed descriptionof the present embodiment of my invention and showing one means and arrangement of parts by which these advantageous results I may be accomplished-:

With reference to the drawings, 10 designates one strap part as having a loop 11 at one end to be connected bya' pin 12 to the bail 13 of the watch 14, and the other end of this strap part is provided with a'plurality of spaced holes 15 to be connected to one link of the extensible member in the manner presently described.

The other strap part 16 is herein shown as having an eye 17 at an end to be connected by a pin 18 to the bail 19 of the. watch 14,

the opposite end of this strap part being provided with an eye 20 adapted to be con-' nected by the in 21 to the lmk member 22.

The extensi le member of my im roved wrist watch strap comprises essential y two links, the one 23 being of channelshape and having a bottom wall 24 and side walls 25, the bottom wall of this link is herein shown as being pierced and a hook-shaped tongue 26 is cut therefrom and bent'upto engage one of the holes 15 in the strap by which the operating length of this strap may be regulated.

This channel member is provided with pivot pin holes 27 for the rece tion of a pivot pin 28 which also extends t rough the art 10' the strap member 16 is connected by the pin 21. A hole 33 is formed in the top wall of the link 22 to receive the outwardlyextending end 34 of the hook 26. It may be noted that in the detailed construction of this extensible member that the bottom wall of the channel member where the two links are pivoted together, is slit as at 35 to receive the ears 29 of the opposite link so as to permit it to be unfolded to extended position and at the same time be folded to overlie the hook and the engaged strap part 10 leaving a space between the links for their reception.

By the use of myimproved extensible member in a wrist watch strap, I am enabled to quickly) extend the operating length of the. strap y one unfolding action to quickly extend the length of the strap sufliciently to enable the watch to he slipped over the hand of the wearer. Then again, by the provision of a hook on the inner face of one of the links I am enabled to readily,

disconnect one end entirely, also to readily adjust the operating length of the strap, and also I am enabled to connect the adjustable end of the strap part onto the hook and then lock this end against separation by folding and locking the other link part over this connected strap end. a

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the constructon illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a wrist watch strap having two parts, a pair of sheet metal link members hinged together at one end, means tor releasably connecting said members together at the other end whereby they may be detached and swung on said hinge to an endto-end extended position, an opening in one of said strap parts inwardly from the periphery thereof, a hook on one of said members protruding inwardly therefrom toward the other member when in closed position for extending through said opening and over said strap, and the other strap part fixedly connected to the other link member.

2. ln a wrist watch strap having two parts, an extensible member comprising a pair of sheet metal linkshinged together at one end to be folded one upon the other, means for releasably attaching the free ends of said links together, one end of one strap part being fixed to the free end of one link member, the other strap part having a plurality of spaced openings, and an attaching.

hook on the other of said link members extending inwardly therefrom towards the other member when the members are in closed position to extend through any one of said openings and over a portion of the strap part to regulate the operating length of the wrist strap and hold the strap in engagement with the members when extended.

3. In a Wrist watch strap having two parts, an extensible member comprising a pair of sheet metal links shaped to form side flanges, said links being hinged together at one end to be folded one upon the other, means for releasably attaching the free ends of said links together, one end of one strap part being fixed to the free end of one link member, the other strap part having a plu rality of spaced openings, and an attaching member on the other of said link members extending inwardly therefrom between the link members when in folded position to be covered thereby and to engage any one of the openings in the other strap part to se- -cure it between said link members by which the operating length of the wrist strap may be re ulated.

4. n a wrist watch strap having two parts, an extensible member comprising a pair of sheet metal link members, one being formed into channel shape having bottom and side walls, and theother link member being nested within the channel-shaped link member, said link members being hinged together at one end to told one over the other, means for releasably connecting together the free ends of said link members, one end of one strap part being fixed to the free end of one of said link members, the other strap having a plurality of spaced holes therein, a hook member formed from the stock and extending inwardly from the bottom wall of the channel member and having a portion extending parallel to the bottom wall to extend into one of said strap openings and over the strap and be secured between said folded link members whereby the operating length of the wrist strap may be regulated.

5. A wrist watch strap extension device comprising a pair of concave-convex sheet metal link members hinged together at one end, means for releasably connecting said members together at the opposite end, a projection fixed to the convex surface of one link member and the other link member overlying said convex surface and having an opening to receive a portion of said projection. I A 1 6. In a wrist watch strap having two parts, a pair of concavo-convex sheet metal means for releasably connecting said members together at the other end, a projection extending from the convex surface of one of said members, one of said strap parts having an opening inwardl from the peripheral edge thereof throug which engage said projection, the other of said link members being foldable over the convex' surface of the member having said projection and the 10 other strap part fixedly connected to the overlying link member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN P. BENJAMIN. 

